Technology update
Refining the Joint Strike Fighter
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Boeing is redesigning some elements of its original Joint Strike Fighter concept to minimize costs. Some of the design updates include a refined empennage with horizontal tails and a modified trailing edge on the wing.
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To minimize costs in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, Boeing is redesigning several components of its Preferred Weapon System Concept (PWSC) for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. However, it will continue building two X-32 concept demonstrators to prove its design and manufacturing processes and the basic flight qualities of its PWSC. Those efforts are collocated to facilitate the sharing of lessons learned.
"This is part of our long-term weapon-system maturation plan," said Frank Statkus, Boeing Vice President and JSF General Manager. "We're reducing risk by refining our configuration now rather than later. This update brings us closer to our final design for a truly affordable operational JSF."
The updated design includes a refined empennage with horizontal tails for additional control power; a modification to the wing's trailing edge; and an aft-swept chin inlet that is lighter, stealthier, and enables better aerodynamic performance at all angles-of-attack. However, the aircraft still retains the same high leading-edge sweep of the original delta wing and the related approach speed and stealth advantages.
The aircraft wing remains a single-piece, over-the-fuselage structure, retaining the highly modular approach and high fuel capacity of the design. Other key features of the Boeing concept that were kept are the wing span; vertical tail; forebody; propulsion systems, including the lightweight direct-lift design for short takeoff/vertical landing; chin inlet; mission systems architecture; integrated support system; side weapons bay; and the same location and retraction for the landing gear.
At time of press, Boeing reported that X-32 assembly at its Palmdale, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tulsa facilities is ahead of schedule in many areas. The X-32A will demonstrate the characteristics of the U.S. Air Force's conventional takeoff and landing variant and the Navy's carrier variant, while the X-32B will demonstrate the short takeoff/vertical landing variant for the Marine Corps and UK Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
Frank Bokulich
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